Conductive terminal and the electrical connector using the conductive terminal

ABSTRACT

A conductive terminal and the electrical connector using the conductive terminal, the conductive terminal is received in a terminal channel defined in an insulative housing of the electrical connector which can transmit signal between an electronic component and a circuit board. The conductive terminal has a first wall, a second wall connecting with the first wall in a certain angle and a third wall connecting with the second wall in a certain angle and opposite to the first wall. The conductive terminal forms a contact portion electrically connecting with the electronic component and a mounting portion electrically connecting with the circuit board via the solder ball. The mounting portion defines a pyramidal space extending out of the insulative housing for receiving the solder ball. When the solder ball melts, the solder ball and the pyramidal space have easily orientation and steadily connecting effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a conductive terminal and,more particularly, to a conductive terminal used in an electricalconnector which can transmit signals between an electronic component anda circuit board via a solder ball connected with the circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 to 3, as disclosed in T.W. patent application No.087216147, publication No. 392975, an electrical connector 1 is a zeroinsertion force (“ZIF”) electrical connector for electricallyinterconnecting a central processing unit (“CPU”) and a mainboard usedin computer device. The electrical connector 1 comprises an insulativehousing 10 and a plurality of conductive terminals 2. Each of theconductive terminals 2 electrically connects with the circuit board 30through surface mounting technology (“SMT”) by pre-setting a solder ball23 onto an end thereof.

The insulative housing 10 of the electrical connector 1 has a mountingsurface 12 on the bottom surface thereof which is positioned proximateto the circuit board 30 and a receiving surface 11 on the top surfacethereof for supporting the electronic component. The insulative housing10 also defines a plurality of through holes 13 extending between themounting surface 12 and the receiving surface 11.

Each of the conductive terminals 2 respectively received in thecorresponding through holes 13 forms a contact portion 20 extendingtoward the receiving surface 11 and an end portion 21 opposite extendingto the mounting surface 12. The end portion 21 has a bottom surface 22for soldering with the corresponding solder ball 23.

To improve successful rate of pre-setting the solder ball 23 onto theend portion 21 of the conductive terminals 2, the end portion 21 forms adisk-shape plane approximately 90 degrees bending to the contact portion20 so that the end portion 21 and the mounting surface 12 of theinsulative housing 10 are approximately located in the same plane. Theplane disk-shape end portion 21 provides a larger area of pre-settingthe solder ball 23 so as to steadily pre-set the solder ball 23. Inaddition, a plurality of protrusions 25 integrally extend from the sideof the end portion 21 for preventing the solder ball 23 dropping fromthe bottom surface 22 of the end portion 21.

To applying the SMT of pre-setting the solder ball 23, one end of theconductive terminal 2 must have a structure of easily locating andconnecting the solder ball 23. The above method is only one of theresolving schemes with which the end portion of the conductive terminal2 has different structures to locate and connect the solder ball 23. Thepresent invention provides an improved conductive terminal to locate andconnect the solder ball 23.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive terminalthat easily locate and steadily connect with a solder ball.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalconnector using the conductive terminals.

The conductive terminals of the present invention are received in aplurality of terminal channels of an insulative housing of theelectrical connector which can transmit signals between an electroniccomponent and a circuit board. The conductive terminal has a first wall,a second wall connecting with the first wall in a certain angle and athird wall connecting with the second wall in a certain angle andopposite to the first wall. The conductive terminal forms a contactportion electrically connecting with the electronic component and amounting portion electrically connecting with the circuit board via thesolder ball. The mounting portion defines a pyramidal space extendingout of the insulative housing for receiving the solder ball.

The electrical connector of the present invention for connecting betweenthe electronic component and the circuit board via a plurality of solderballs soldering onto the circuit bard, comprises an insulative housinghaving a mounting surface which is positioned proximate to the circuitboard and a receiving surface for supporting the electronic componentThe insulative housing defines a plurality of terminal channelsextending through the mounting surface and the receiving surface. Theelectrical connector also comprises a plurality of conductive terminalsrespectively received in the corresponding terminal channels. Theconductive terminal has a first wall, a second wall connecting with thefirst wall in a certain angle and a third wall connecting with thesecond wall in a certain angle and opposite to the first wall. Theconductive terminal forms a contact portion electrically connecting withthe electronic component and a mounting portion electrically connectingwith the circuit board via the solder ball. The mounting portion definesa pyramidal space extending out of the mounting surface of theinsulative housing for receiving the solder ball.

The mounting portion defines the pyramidal space by using a side wallconnecting with an end of the first wall which circles around afictitious central line as an axis.

The mounting portion can also comprises a first side arm connecting withan end of the first wall and a second side arm connecting with an end ofthe third wall. The first side arm and the second side arm separatelyextend out of the insulative housing and define the pyramidal space.

The pyramidal structure of the conductive terminal can easily receiveand locate the solder ball. When the solder ball melts, tin and theconductive terminals can solid adhere and have larger adhere area so asto ensure adhere stability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view illustrating a conventionalelectrical connector;

FIG. 2 is a side partial sectional view illustrating of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal of theconventional electrical connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal and an insulativehousing of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a solder ball located in a mounting portion ofthe conductive terminal of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal and an insulativehousing of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another plan view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the solder ball located in a mounting portionof the conductive terminal of the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the conductive terminal having ahorizontal portion of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of the solder ball located in a mounting portionof the conductive terminal of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms,there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosureis to be considered an exemplification of the principles of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that asillustrated and described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, a conductive terminal 4 of the presentinvention used in an electrical connector is similar with the prior artand connects between an electronic component (not shown) and a circuitboard (not shown). The conductive terminal 4 pre-sets a solder ball 6onto an end thereof.

The electrical connector comprises a plurality of conductive terminals 4and an insulative housing 5.

The insulative housing 5 has a mounting surface 51 which is positionedproximate to the circuit board (such as motherboard of a computer) and areceiving surface 52 for supporting the electronic component (such ascentral processing unit, CPU). The insulative housing 5 defines aplurality of terminal channels 53 extending through the mounting surface51 and the receiving surface 52. To easily illuminate, it is drawn inthe FIGS. that the insulative housing 5 has a single terminal channel53.

The conductive terminal 4 has a first wall 41, a second wall 42connecting with one side of the first wall 41 in an approximately 90degrees angle and a third wall 43 connecting with the other side of thesecond wall 42 in an approximately 90 degrees angle and opposite to thefirst wall 41 in some distance. The connecting corner of the first wall41 and the second wall 42 defines a plurality of hollows 44 so as tomake the connecting corner of the first wall 41 and the second wall 42have lower intensity and the first wall 41 easily bend along the hollows44. Similarly, the connecting corner of the third wall 43 and the secondwall 42 defines a plurality of hollows 44 so as to make the third wall43 easily bend along the hollows 44 to the second wall 42. Theconductive terminal 4 respectively forms a mounting portion 401 and acontact portion 402 at opposite end thereof.

The mounting portion 401 has a pyramidal, or frustoconical, space 40defined by a side wall 45 connecting the first wall 41. In manufacture,the side wall 45 is an elongated plate connected with the first wall 41and formed by stamping with the first wall 41 at the same time. Theelongated plate encircles a plane along a fictitious central line 451 asan axis which is similar with the extending long direction of theconductive terminal 4. And when encircling the side wall 45, it sideface has a same out-fastigiated degrees with the fictitious central line451 so as to expand far away from the contact portion 402 to define thepyramidal space 40 receiving the solder ball 6. As shown in FIG. 5, thepyramidal space 40 preferably does not have an enclosed top, but rather,the top portion of the pyramidal space 40 is open.

The contact portion 402 comprises a first spring arm 47 formed on oneside of the first wall 41 adjacent to the receiving surface 52 and asecond spring arm 48 formed on one side of the second wall 42 adjacentto the receiving surface 52. A free end of the first spring arm 47 and afree end of the second spring arm 48 are adjacent to form a springreceiving structure to provide an insert arm of an electrical component(not shown) inserting. Because the contact portion 402 is not the pointof novelty of the present invention and its principle of electricallyconnecting is similar with a corresponding structure of the conductiveterminal of the ZIF electrical connector (not shown), here it is notilluminated in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, in assembly, the conductive terminal 4inserts the corresponding terminal channels 53 of the insulative housing5 from the mounting surface 51 of the insulative housing 5 so that thecontact portion 402 is received in the terminal channels 53 and adjacentto the receiving surface 52 thereof, and the mounting portion 401extends from the mounting surface 51 thereof. The pyramidal space 40defined by the side wall 45 expands from one end near the terminalchannels 53 to the direction faraway from the mounting surface 51 of theinsulative housing 5, with the pyramidal opening 40 being greaterfarther away from the mounting surface 51. When the solder ball 6contacts with the mounting portion 401, the pyramidal space 40 canreceive the solder ball 6 through its cone-shaped structure. The insidesurfaces of the side wall 45 slant toward inside in every direction soas to locate the solder ball 6 in the pyramidal space 40. And when thesolder ball 6 melts, tin adheres to the inside surfaces of the side wall45 so that the whole of the solder ball 6 and the pyramidal space 40have easy orientation and steadily connecting effect.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, a conductive terminal 4 of another embodimentis different from the conductive terminal 4 of the first embodiment asabove. The mounting portion 401 of the conductive terminal 4 comprises afirst side arm 461 connecting with the first wall 41 and adjacent to oneend of the mounting surface 51, and a second side arm 462 connectingwith the third wall 43 and adjacent to one end of the mounting surface51. The first side arm 461 and the second side arm 462 aslant extend outof the mounting surface 51 and apart each other to define a cone-shapedpyramidal space 40. Therefore, the pyramidal space 40 receives thesolder ball 6 and the first side arm 461 and the second side arm 462aslant locate the solder ball 6. In addition, an end of the first sidearm 461 further defines a first recess 463 and an end of the second sidearm 462 further defines a second recess 464. When the solder ball 6melts, tin inflow into the first recess 463 and the second recess 464 sothat the concretionary solder ball 6 not only adheres to the surface ofthe first side arm 461 and the second side arm 462 but also insets thefirst recess 463 and the second recess 464 to enhance fastness of thesolder ball 6 and the mounting portion 401 connecting.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the mounting portion 401 of theconductive terminal 4 also comprises a horizontal portion 465 connectingwith the second wall 42. The horizontal portion 465 adjacent to one endof the mounting surface 51 and approximately 90-degrees bends from thesecond wall 42. The horizontal portion 465 is formed at the middle awayfrom the first side arm 461 and the second side arm 462. The horizontalportion 465 can stop and strengthen to contact with the solder ball 6 soas to improve fastness of the solder ball 6 and the mounting portion 401locating and connecting.

In conclusion, the conductive terminal 4 of the present invention isformed via the first wall 41, the second wall 42 and the third wall 43stamping and bending. The mounting portion 401 of the conductiveterminal 4 defines the pyramidal space 40 to locate the solder ball 6 soas to make the solder ball 6 adhere therein.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described withrespect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the various changes, omissions andadditions may be made therein and thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

1. A stamped and formed conductive terminal capable of being receivedwithin a terminal channel defined in an insulative housing and betweenan electronic component and a circuit board, having a contact portionelectrically connecting with the electronic component and a mountingportion electrically connecting with the circuit board via a solderball, comprising: a first wall, a second wall connecting with the firstwall in a certain angle and a third wall connecting with the second wallin a certain angle and opposite to the first wall, and the mountingportion defining a pyramidal space extending out of the insulativehousing for receiving the solder ball.
 2. The conductive terminal ofclaim 1 in which the mounting portion defines the pyramidal space byusing a side wall connecting with an end of the first wall which circlesaround a fictitious central line as an axis.
 3. The conductive terminalof claim 1 in which the mounting portion comprises a first side armconnecting with an end of the first wall and a second side armconnecting with an end of the third wall, the first side arm and thesecond side arm separately extend out of the insulative housing anddefine the pyramidal space.
 4. The conductive terminal of claim 3 inwhich the mounting portion of the conductive terminal comprises ahorizontal portion connecting with the second wall, the horizontalportion is between the first side arm and the second side arm, and has acertain degrees therebetween.
 5. The conductive terminal of claim 1 inwhich the contact portion comprises a first spring arm formed on thefirst wall and a second spring arm corresponding to the first-spring armand formed on the second wall, the first spring arm and the secondspring arm are adjacent to form a spring receiving structure.
 6. Theconductive terminal of claim 1 in which the pyramidal space is open at atop portion.
 7. The conductive terminal of claim 1 in which a horizontalportion extends from one of the walls, the horizontal portion beinglocated between the first and third walls.
 8. The conductive terminal ofclaim 3 in which at least one of the side arms includes a recess.
 9. Anelectrical connector for connecting between an electronic component anda circuit board via a plurality of solder balls soldering onto thecircuit bard, having an insulative housing forming a mounting surfaceadjacent to the circuit board and a receiving surface for supporting theelectronic component, the insulative housing defining a plurality ofterminal channels extending through the mounting surface and thereceiving surface, a plurality of stamped and formed conductiveterminals respectively received in the corresponding terminal channels,comprising: the conductive terminal having a first wall, a second wallconnecting with the first wall in a certain angle and a third wallconnecting with the second wall in a certain angle and opposite to thefirst wall, the conductive terminal forming a contact portionelectrically connecting with the electronic component and a mountingportion electrically connecting with the circuit board via the solderball, the mounting portion defining a pyramidal space extending out ofthe mounting surface of the insulative housing for receiving the solderball.
 10. The electrical connector of claim 9 in which the mountingportion of the conductive terminal defines the pyramidal space by usinga side wall connecting with an end of the first wall which circlesaround a fictitious central line as an axis.
 11. The electricalconnector of claim 9 in which the mounting portion of the conductiveterminal comprises a first side arm connecting with the first wall andadjacent to one end of the mounting surface and a second side armconnecting with the third wall and adjacent to one end of the mountingsurface, and the first side arm and the second side arm aslant extendout of the mounting surface and are apart from each other to define acone-shaped pyramidal space.